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Carp open to any opportunity with Rangers

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Carp turns two 0:18

7/29/14: Mike Carp snags Dioner Navarro's hard-hit line drive, then steps on first base to double off Melky Cabrera and end the inning

By T.R. Sullivan
/
MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- Mike Carp joined the Rangers on Monday and was immediately inserted into the lineup, starting at first base and batting fifth against White Sox right-hander Hector Noesi. Carp, a left-handed hitter, can also be used at designated hitter and left field, but it appears he will get much of his playing time sharing first with J.P. Arencibia.

"We'll get him out there when we can, move him around and try to get his bat going," manager Ron Washington said. "It will probably take some at-bats to get going, but we know we can hit."

Carp, who spent his first four Major League seasons with the Mariners, spent the past two with Boston. He was a productive role player in 2013, when the Red Sox won the World Series, hitting .296 with nine home runs, 43 RBIs and a .523 slugging percentage in 86 games and 216 at-bats.

But he wasn't getting as much playing time with the Red Sox this season -- missing all of June with a broken foot didn't help, either -- and was hitting .198 with a .320 on-base percentage and .279 slugging percentage in 42 games and 86 at-bats.

So as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline approached, he asked for a trade.

"Playing once a week, it's hard to stay sharp," Carp said. "The opportunities were few and far between, so it led to an unfortunate situation. It just came down to playing time. I just wanted to go out and compete. It's frustrating not to be able to do that, and lose on top of it.

"I'm comfortable with whatever opportunity comes my way. It will be better than what I had in Boston. I've got two months to figure it out and get back on track."

The Rangers were able to make room for Carp on the roster because catcher Chris Gimenez is away on paternity leave. His wife, Kellie, is about to give birth, and he can be away for up to three days.

Gimenez could be ready to return by Friday, when the Rangers open a three-game series with the Astros in Houston. But the Rangers are also expecting Geovany Soto to come off the disabled list that day as well.